How Jesus Changed The World

Introduction

Matthew chapter 5 begins, seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you, and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven. For so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

And what’s interesting about his philosophy, as revealed in Matthew chapter 5, look again with me, beginning in verse 3. Note the difference between the common man and a follower of Christ. You see, a follower of Christ in verse 3 is poor in spirit. In verse 4, it’s someone who mourns, someone who is meek, someone who hungers and thirsts for righteousness, someone who is merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake. Theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Now, if you look around at the world, do you see a lot of meek? Merciful people? I tell you, just one step on to I four, we’ll tell you, not everyone is quite so meek and peaceful and merciful. That is a joke. You can laugh, even though it is the 9 o’clock hour.

But what’s interesting about Christ and his life and his teachings is two powerful points. The first one, and perhaps the most important for us in consideration of the lesson this morning is Christ lived what he preached. No one fit this bill better than Christ Himself, the master teacher, the great shepherd. But secondly, his teachings completely and utterly distinctify his followers in a way that is un that cannot be confused with those of the world. It is not the same. It is, in fact, completely different to follow Christ than to follow your own fleshly being, hearts, and desires, isn’t it? I asked everyone this morning, and I’ve given this morning before, I do see when you actually follow these verbal cues I give you. Look around this morning.

Do that right now. Just take a glance around. Consider. Again, I still see some of you looking at me. That’s not the right idea. Look around. Consider all the different backgrounds that are here this morning. Recognize that there are people from different countries, different states, even unfortunately, Texas. There are all these different people, cultural backgrounds that are here. Why? Well, yes, South Thumb is a good place, and you’re going to hear a fantastic lesson at 9 o’clock. I know that’s why most people are here. But in reality, most people are here because of Christ. Everyone is here to worship God this morning as we have been commanded, and as we have opportunity to do so. Because Christ’s teaching bring us together. But the reality is, this was the life.

1. One Solitary Life Changed Human History

This was the teachings. This was the culmination of one man’s life. And a lot of us know that, and we kind of have on autopilot how great Jesus was, don’t we? We just say, Jesus is almighty. He is my Savior. And we mean that. We feel that. But do you ever consider just historically how impactful the life of Christ was? Consider the words of an historian, and I’m going to read several accounts of different historians. Philip Schaff eloquently described the influence Jesus had by saying the following.

He shed more light on things human and divine than all philosophers and scholars combined. Without the eloquence of schools, he spoke such words of life as were never spoken before or since, and produced effects which lie beyond the reach of orator or poet. Without writing a single line, he set more pins in motion and furnished themes for more sermons, orations, discussion, learned volumes, works of art, and songs of praise than the whole army of great men of ancient and modern times. And you know who that was, ladies and gentlemen? That was Jesus in man’s form. You recognize that the life of Christ produced what that historian could account in such a way? Dr. James Allen in 1926 said, nearly two thousand years ago, in an obscure village, a child was born of a peasant woman.

He grew up in another village where he worked as a carpenter until he was thirty. Then for three years, he became an itinerant preacher. This man never went to college or seminary. He he never wrote a book, he never held a public office, he never had a family nor owned a home. He never put his foot inside a big city, nor traveled even two hundred miles from his birthplace. And though he never did any of the things that usually accompany greatness, throngs of people followed him. He had no credentials but himself. While he was still young, the tide of public opinion turned against him. His followers ran away. He was turned over to his enemies and sentenced to death on a cross between two thieves. While he was dying, his executioners gambled for the only piece of property he had on earth, the simple coat he had worn.

His body was laid in a borrowed grave, provided by a compassionate friend. But three days later, this man arose from the dead, living proof that he was, as he had claimed, the Savior whom God had sent, the incarnate Son of God. Nineteen centuries have come and gone today. The risen Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal figure of the human race. On our calendars, his birth divides history into two eras. One day of every week is set aside in remembrance of him, and our two most important holidays celebrate his birth and resurrection. On church steeples around the world, his cross has become the symbol of victory over sin and death. This one man’s life has furnished the theme for more songs, books, poems, and paintings than any other person or event in history.

Thousands of colleges, hospitals, orphanages, and other institutions have been founded in honor of this one who gave his life for us. All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the governments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned have not changed the course of history as much as this one solitary life. Now, I wish to obviously add a disclaimer, I don’t agree necessarily with everything that was said or the conclusions of what she drew, but I do agree with the number one conclusion, which is one solitary life. That is the life in a human way of Jesus the Christ changed the course of human history more than anything and everything else. Jesus did that. And when we consider that the Son of God decided that he wanted to come into our form, and he died on the cross for our sins.

There’s an awe, a respect, and hopefully a whole lot of thanksgiving for this crucified beloved Son of God, isn’t there? You see, Jesus’ teachings in Matthew chapter 5 were of a way that is completely unknown to man without him. Yes, there’s people who practice good morals for the sake of being good, but how would you even define good without the teachings of Christ? How would you define what is good? How would you know you are doing something right if truth is subjective? You see, this morning, I want to focus on the fact that this one solitary life of Christ, he came, and it cannot be denied. Jesus lived, Jesus conquered, and Jesus impacted the world, and it cannot be changed or undone. No matter what powers of hell, no matter what powers of human forces rise up against it, the Lord will prevail.

2. And Such Were Some of You

Question is: how has Jesus changed your life? How has he changed the lives of many people? Well, I’d like to dive into the Bible. The words of God, open them with me. First Corinthians chapter 6. We see an example of just how powerful the teachings of Christ were, what they did, how they grabbed people, and how different a life is before and after Christ.

1 Corinthians chapter 6, notice in verse 9. Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. And we often use this verse, and it is warranted to do so to say, these people, these classifications of sin will keep you from heaven. And we can point to this and say, we know what our sins to God because we see some of them here. But notice Paul continues, read verse 11. And such were some of you. But you were washed. You were sanctified. You were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the Spirit of our God.

Do you get that? Read it again with me with that in mind. Beginning in verse 9. Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. What changed these people? Jesus did. What changed them? The teachings of Christ, the call to be better, to be different. And it’s the call, it’s the saving that only Jesus could offer. And the teachings that Jesus had. And such were some of you, but you were washed. You were sanctified. You were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

And by the Spirit of our God. Do you notice that Jesus did that? His teachings changed people. He took them from these awful states, from sexually immoral practices, from idolaters, adulterers, homosexualists, thieves, drunkards, and they changed. What changed them? Jesus did. And we think all the time, we think, well, that’s just how it should be. But notice, Jesus did that. His teachings, the teachings of his followers that all point back to him as a representative of God the Father, changed the course of people’s lives in a dramatic way. Look in Colossians chapter 3. Pick up the reading in verse 5 of Colossians chapter 3.

3. Put to Death What Is Earthly in You

Colossians chapter 3. Notice the reading in verse 5.

Put to death, therefore, what is earthly in you sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these, the wrath of God is coming. And these you too once walked when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in its knowledge in knowledge after the image of its creator. What changed these people? What soul altered their lives? It’s two facts. It’s the call to be different by the teachings of Christ, and it’s to take advantage of the salvation that God the Father offers.

That’s what changed the course of human history was when Jesus was crucified on the cross. He fulfilled the prophecies. He taught, he walked his preaching. He lived, he was sacrificed, and he died for you and for me. And that tells us we need to be different. Because Jesus said so. And because God has ordained it. When Jesus lived, he lived in a way that caused problems. Jesus lived in a way that caused problems for the religious of the time. And for the non-religious of the time. You see, because his teachings stood out. They said, You will have eternal salvation if you do these things. And without me, you cannot. I am the Son of God. And there was no fence sitting. When someone claims to be the Son of God, they are or they are not.

They are blasphemous or they are true. And Jesus was true. And that so changed the course of human history. Consider in Colossians chapter 3, think with me really about your life. Consider just a moment of all of these sins that are listed. Notice what verse 7 says. And these you too once walked when you were living in them. Let me tell you, brothers and sisters, this list is not just for the people of Colossi. This list is for Christians. These are people who had sinned, and we do too. Notice them again. Consider with amongst yourselves in your mind. Sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Verse 8, but now you must put them all away. Anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

Now you may say, well, Greg, I’m not into that sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. But I’ve got to tell you, I know, because you’re looking at number one over here, that people in this church building are involved with anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. I lead that charge. I am ashamed to say. This happens. These sins occur. Why? Verse 7, and these two you once walked when you were living in them. Why did we walk in those ways? Verse 5, put to death earthly. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you. It’s our natural desires. You see, in Matthew chapter 5, in the listing of the Beatitudes, Jesus’ teachings run counter-cultural to what good, what pure, what righteousness is.

And it runs countercultural because culture is drived by our fleshly desires. It’s drived by me. It’s drived by what I want, what I feel, how I think. I want it. I want it now, and so it will be mine. Jesus’ teachings are patience. And in fact, remember in Matthew chapter 5, blessed are those who are even persecuted for my name’s sake. See, the teachings of Jesus go beyond just being a good person and being a good neighbor. Jesus’ teachings were so refreshing, so new, so different, that they even pointed out, you will be persecuted for this if you’re doing it right, because you will stand out, because Jesus stood out in a major way.

4. Jesus Flipped the Script

Another way that Jesus flipped the script. Men of glory, of power, that have millions and millions of followers, like Christ does, like God the Father has. They tell people what to do. And they glorify themselves, don’t they? People, it’s all about amassing my wealth, my fame, my popularity. And when Christ was here, who was he with? Who is he constantly charged with being with? The lowly, sinners, tax collectors, heathens, people that were beneath the religious leaders of the time. Why? Because Jesus pushed on to something greater. He made an impact. He had a mission from the Father, and he believed it. Do you see how powerful it is? Jesus said, I will submit to the will of the Father, and he carried out that will. And it changed everything.

5. He Taught Real Forgiveness

And I know I’m being redundant and making the point, but without Christ, we have no point. We have no existence of living because we are stuck in our sins. It was because of God’s great plan and because of Christ’s execution of it, that we even have a hope. That we even have a chance at eternity in heaven. And there is a contingency attached to that, that we find Christ. And that we adhere to his teachings to find his grace, to find his mercy, to find what God expects of us. You see, Jesus didn’t only change the way people live, he wrote the book on how to be even just a person in this life. He taught real forgiveness. Look at me in John chapter 3. If you notice the teaching of Christ, in John chapter 3.

It’s something we say a lot, but I don’t know that we truly consider it. We don’t truly consider what this has to say. Look at John chapter 3 and verse 5. Jesus answered, truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Notice what he had said in verse 3. Truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. What is this being born again, Jesus? Well, we know that that answer is given in Romans chapter 6, where we are baptized, bathed into the death, burial, and then risen up, resurrected, just like Jesus was, baptized in the death, burial, and resurrection of our great Lord. But why?

What is the purpose? It’s a putting off of the old sin. It’s a second chance, it’s a second life. Jesus gives life. Jesus taught real forgiveness, and there is no greater forgiveness than that of the sin which would eternally condemn us. Notice in Acts chapter 2. In Peter’s great sermon. In Acts chapter 2 and verse 37, what do the people say to him? Any of you know the story? Now, when they heard this, they were cuts of the heart. And they said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, brothers, what shall we do? Verse 36 though holds the key to what perhaps the problem was. But all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.

Do you notice the power of that statement saying, His blood is on your hands? You missed the Savior. And without him, what do we have? Eternal death. We have nothing. Without Jesus, there’s no hope. There’s no forgiveness of sins. There’s no point. We’re stuck. We’re trapped. Without Christ and his great teachings, we wouldn’t even know what it is to be right, to strive for excellence without the eternal plan of God. But notice that there’s an answer given. What does Peter say? Verse 38. Look in your Bibles with me. Verse 38. And Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized. Why? Think about it. Read it as we go. Repent and be baptized, every one of you where? In the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

What’s his big deal? Notice. In the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, Jesus could take away your sin. Jesus had true forgiveness. We get upset with our brothers and sisters when they argue with us, or when someone cuts us off on the highway, or when someone does anything that inconveniences me, or is an obstacle to my happiness and my leisure. But Jesus was sinned against. God lived, he gave life, and we refuse him consistently and constantly. And what did he do? He didn’t hold it against us. He provided his beloved son as a sacrifice. He was crucified on the cross for our sins. Jesus taught and Jesus lived true forgiveness. And that is something that is unknown to our fleshly earthly desires.

6. He Taught Real Giving, Real Sacrifice

Because normally when someone upsets me, I want to get them back. This time I’m not going to be the good guy. You ever had that thought? This time, it’s not my fault. I didn’t do anything. They have it out for me. You know what you hear a lot of that Jesus did not have in those sentences? I, me, what I think, what I feel. Jesus said what God does and what God has said. And there’s a stark contrast between the two. But Jesus then just didn’t just teach real forgiveness. He taught real giving, real sacrifice. Go back to Matthew chapter 5. Consider the life. Consider what Matthew chapter 5 really exhorts us to be living like. Matthew chapter 5. Pick up the reading in verse 9.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake. For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you and others revile and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad. For your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. That is a life that is not about me. Who is it about? Why should we rejoice and be glad that we are being persecuted? Who? Why? It’s about Christ, not about me. And that’s the biggest difference that Jesus brought. Jesus taught a life that said, I live for God, I live for something better than me. There is something better than this life. And if you get that back, if you get that impact of Christ’s life, your life will be forever changed because it isn’t about you. It’s about God who created you, who had in his design your existence in eternity before you even existed.

And that Father, that great God, allows us to be called children of Him. Jesus was His beloved Son. But we can be called sons of God. What a privilege, amen.

We have nothing without God. We are nothing without Christ. When Christ lived, he lived to do the will of the Father. And what did He say that He was here to do? To seek and save the lost.

He wasn’t here to show what He can do, and master Himself followers so that He could be great and He could be exalted. He was simply here to submit to the will of the Father. And I tell you, that man with his one life, the Son of God, so altered human history that as the historian noted today, there are people around the world who come together once a week to worship him. There are people who live, hopefully in this very building, all each and every one of us live, dedicated to his life and his teachings, taking advantage of that life he lived, and more importantly, of the death, burial, and resurrection which he went through. Because if we do that, we recognize all that Jesus offered, and what he offered is a whole lot.

But I tell you, there is a cost. There is something that Jesus also showed us in teaching us about real forgiveness and real giving and real morality. He taught us that it means sacrifice is necessary. Consider 2 Peter chapter 2. What I want to encourage everyone to consider as they go into this week is if one man can change the world so much, yes, he is the beloved Son of God. How big of an impact can I make? How brightly is my lamp shining to where the people will see its light and come to glorify God as we are commanded to do. Consider 2 Peter chapter 2.

2 Peter chapter 2, beginning in verse 21. Actually, excuse me, 1 Peter chapter 2 and verse 21. I could make a point from that, but I won’t. 1 Peter chapter 2, beginning in verse 21. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return. When he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds, you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but now I’ve now returned to the shepherd, an overseer of your souls.

It’s a big challenge laid down there, isn’t there? Look again at verse 21. For to this you have been called. What? Because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example. Christ left us an example to do what with? The end of verse 21, so that you might follow in his steps. What did Jesus do? He did the will of the Father at all costs. What are we to do? Live to the Father at all costs. We act as if Jesus just was supposed to all along, and it was God’s plan. We act as if there was no choice, that it’s just the way it was. We consider in history sometimes we we brush over the fact we’re on autopilot. We consider Jesus is the Savior.

Jesus loves us. Jesus did all this for me. And he does. He did, and he would again if God willed it. But the fact is, that was a choice of God and Christ and the Spirit. They chose. God chose to have an eternal plan to redeem us, to save us. And Christ lived as an example for us. How does the text continue? Christ suffered. Christ existed in a time where people were rude to him. He didn’t live in some sort of cultural bubble where it was just him and his perfect teachings and his perfect way. He lived around people. In fact, the very sinful people contrived a trial against him that was a sham. And they nailed him to wood. They crucified him. What do we do?

What do we give up? What do we sacrifice like Christ did? Because if we acknowledge Christ as the Savior and we should walk in his steps, that’s a big challenge. That’s a life. That’s a game changer, isn’t it?

Conclusion

Think about the life of someone like Esther. And what Mordecai talked to her in Esther chapter 4 and in verse 14. Josh preached this towards the end of his stay here. And keying in on the end of Esther chapter 4 and verse 14, Mordecai gives her the thought of a paraphrase, perhaps you were put here in this kingdom for such a time as this. We all have a life. We have jobs that God has blessed us with. We have life that God has blessed us. We have food. We have money. We have provisions that God has blessed us with. Perhaps God has put you here for such a time as this. Who do you know in your life that needs Christ? Do you need him this day?

Do you need to turn your life over to him fully? Because without him, without that, we have nothing. We are dead in our sins. But Christ came. Take advantage of his life. Consider how one man, one lowly man of circumstance, was exalted and now sits at the right hand of God. If we do the will of a Father, we can be in the presence of Almighty God forever, and there truly is no greater blessing. Please pray with me this morning. Oh dear God, and I’m most gracious, powerful, and loving Heavenly Father. We are humbled by your greatness. We are. We cannot even fathom eternity, and yet you have existed then, now, and will forevermore. Oh God, thank you for your great mercy. We pray that you forgive us and wipe away the sting and the remains of sin in our life.

Oh God, help us to seek you. Help us to learn from Christ and His wonderful example. And O Lord, we are so thankful to you for sending your beloved Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. We’re thankful for His life. We’re thankful for His death, burial, and resurrection. And O God, we pray that we never serve you in vain or gloss over the fact of the great sacrifice and love that you have. Teach us and show us to love each and every day. Teach us and show us to forgive as Christ did. And most importantly, Lord, help us to serve you and to press on to the higher goal of living with you for all eternity. O Lord, keep us safe. Help us to focus our minds as we learn more about you and praise you this very morning.

It’s in your Son’s name we do pray. Amen. We’re now dismissed to our Bible classes.

For many I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, say, Lord, Lord, open for us. And he will answer and say to you, I do not know you where you are from. Then you will begin to say, We ate and drank in your presence. And you taught in our streets. But he will say, I tell you, I do not know you where you are from. Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity.